BEACON COACHING

Hi Everyone. Hope this finds you well this first Sunday in August - OMG August! Where has the year gone? I am looking out my window this morning at a cloudy gray sky with the possibilities of rain. It rained like heck yesterday and was chilly for this time of year. I have been retired a month now and have done as I promised myself and technically not worked so far this summer. I have been running around dealing with family and life in Massachusetts. I have learned to value life and family even more over the past month. As I have written previously I have been walking in the mornings and trying to get in 3 or 4 miles at a time and they have been glorious mornings. I think the neighbors are getting to know me as I hear more and more greetings. I love hearing the "good mahnin." The first week I was here one of the women actually asked me if I lived here and I said my parents do so she left me alone after that. I actually ran into a distant cousin the other day. I thought I recognized her the week before and as I approached her the other day she said: "are you Marie?" I said yes Victoria it's me. We had a nice long chat and got caught up on a few family members. Many of the people in this development have small gardens either flower or vegetable. I took a couple of pics so you can get a taste of what I see as I'm walking. I did not walk yesterday, raining too much, or this morning as I am feeling tired and like I am fighting a summer cold. My family had a great week as my nephew Shamus came home for a visit for the first time in 18 months. All week we talked to my mom about Shamus coming home as we hoped she would have a good day on Friday. My dad was so excited he had me order a cake and an Italian meat platter, chips, etc. You would think he was feeding the staff at the hospital. I am providing a couple of pics from Friday. We all had tears in our eyes when Shamus came in the room to see his mema (he named her). I must admit my dad was driving me a little crazy this past week. He was getting aggravated with me when I was in my normal questioning mode. Of course, it does not help that he is trying to stay independent and prove that he can still handle everything. I am trying to complete the insurance papers for the hospital and he is busy moving things around which can cause issues. He thinks I'm questioning his decisions and finances and believe me I'm not. As I keep letting him know, I need to know where items are so I can help in the future. Oh well, this too is a learning experience. I know dad won't be happy with me tomorrow when we have a discussion about me leaving on Tuesday. Because he is truly not supposed to drive I have worked with a few of his friends to arrange rides for him when I'm not here. I am deeply concerned about his driving and arranged to have him dropped off and picked up to visit mom every day and to get some shopping done. Still not sure how to start this conversation tomorrow as I think he is going to be really ticked. Oh well, another learning lesson for both of us on this journey of life.

Update: As I went to publish this my dad found the list of names that had been prepared as drivers. He listened and agreed. Talk about waiting for anger and upset, my sister and I were both sitting here when he found the list. We approached it from concern (which we are) and he actually agreed. Could have knocked me over with a feather at this point. So many emotions going through me at this time. I finished reading "Glimpses of Heaven" by Trudy Harris, RN. The book contains true stories of hope and peace at the end of life's journey. Trudy is the former president of the Hospice Foundation for Caring. It is beautifully written and to me is a learning tool as well.

I am ending this here today. I hope you have a good week. Take care. Chat soon. Marie

“A truly strong person does not need the approval of others any more than a lion needs the approval of sheep.”- Vernon Howard“Let go of certainty. The opposite isn't uncertainty. It's openness, curiosity and a willingness to embrace paradox, rather than choose up sides. The ultimate challenge is to accept ourselves exactly as we are, but never stop trying to learn and grow.”- Tony Schwartz“Within you, there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself.” - Hermann Hesse

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Welcome to "Thoughts for a Sunday," the weekly blog of Marie Nagle of Beacon Coaching. Let's have a life changing conversation! Please share your thoughts and insights with me by submitting a comment. All comments are moderated and subject to approval. Subscribe to my blog to receive weekly posts via e-mail. Thank you! - Marie